Rioting in east Delhi: 20 picked up for questioning

NEW DELHI: Police have picked up over 20 people for questioning in connection with rioting in an east Delhi locality in which one person was killed following rumours that a youth died after an accident at a vehicle checking picket.

A senior police official said the situation is peaceful in Mayur Vihar Phase III where the incident took place last night and a large number of police personnel have been deployed.

Investigators said they have detained at least 22 locals in connection with the incident.

One person was killed and around 20 people, including over a dozen policemen, were injured when the mob and police clashed after police tried to stop them for vehicle checking.

Police had lobbed tear gas shells and used force to disperse the crowd. Some locals and police men suffered injuries in the clash.

The violence came an hour after the man, who the police claimed was drunk, fell from his two wheeler at a vehicle checking picket when he was signalled to stop for not wearing a helmet.

Eye witnesses claimed he ignored the signal and tried to flee but a police man tried to stop him and he fell down. He was then hit by a vehicle which was behind the scooter. Police denied the allegations.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he is undergoing treatment, a senior police official said.

However, police said a "rumour" spread in the area that the victim died in the incident and enraged locals gathered near the police post and clashed with the personnel.

The mob then went on a rampage setting afire the police post and at least seven vehicles including buses and trucks.